Clinical Lead sought for breast implant registry

The National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) is seeking expressions of interest for the role of Clinical Lead of a new national breast implant registry.

In 2019, the HSE set up a serious incident management team (SIMT) to guide the national response to the evolving knowledge of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma associated with some breast implants. Less than five reports related to BIA-ALCL had been received by the Health Products Regulatory Authority as of May 2023. 

The HSE SIMT recommended the development of a breast implant/device registry to collect population-based risk and intervention data; adoption of the International Collaboration of Breast Registry Activities (ICOBRA) dataset (used globally across breast implant registries); and mandatory participation in the registry.

Breast implant registries have been established in several countries. Registries allow for the identification of possible trends and complications relating to specific implants. They also aim to facilitate tracing of patients in the event of a product recall or safety concern relating to a type of implant.

In 2023, NOCA achieved funding through the Department of Health to develop and implement a national breast implant registry. 

The scope of the registry will include all public and private healthcare providers/cosmetic clinics that carry out reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery. 

The ICOBRA dataset will be used to facilitate international benchmarking. This dataset includes demographic details (ie, patient, surgeon, site); patient history; implant details; surgical approach and techniques; and revision breast surgery.

The registry will also facilitate an implant recall process, as well as consideration of inclusion of a patient reported outcome measurement. 

NOCA is currently seeking expressions of interest for the position of Clinical Lead. The role is a 0.4 whole-time equivalent (WTE) commitment for the initial two-year development period and will reduce to a 0.2 WTE post thereafter.  

The candidate must be either a consultant in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, or a consultant general surgeon with a special interest in breast surgery. The closing date for expressions of interest is 31 August next.